NEW YORK (Diya TV) — Stephen Colbert shocked fans Thursday night with the announcement that CBS will end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026. The news came during a live taping at the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City. The audience responded with boos and disbelief.
“Yeah, I share your feelings,” Colbert said. “It’s not just the end of our show. It’s the end of The Late Show on CBS. I’m not being replaced. This is all just going away.”
Colbert has hosted the late-night show since 2015, taking over from David Letterman. Under his leadership, The Late Show became one of the top-rated programs in its time slot, known for its blend of humor and sharp political commentary.
CBS said the decision to end the show is part of a broader financial strategy. The network emphasized that the cancellation had nothing to do with ratings, content, or internal matters at Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company.
“This was purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night,” the network said in a statement. “We are proud that Stephen called CBS home.”
Still, many are questioning the timing. Just days before the announcement, Colbert criticized Paramount Global for paying a $16 million settlement to former President Donald Trump. Trump had sued the company for $20 billion, claiming CBS edited a 60 Minutes interview in favor of then-2024 opponent Kamala Harris.
The timing of the show’s cancellation has raised eyebrows in political circles. Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff both expressed concern about possible political motives.
“CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump — a deal that looks like bribery,” Warren said on social media. “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”
Schiff, who appeared as a guest on Colbert’s show the same night the news broke, echoed Warren’s call for transparency.
“If Paramount and CBS ended The Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know. And deserves better,” Schiff said.
Colbert’s exit marks the end of a late-night tradition that stretches back to 1993, when The Late Show first aired on CBS. Before Colbert, the show was hosted by David Letterman for over two decades. The program has been a cornerstone of American television, blending celebrity interviews with political satire and cultural commentary.
Before joining CBS, Colbert rose to fame on Comedy Central, where he worked alongside Jon Stewart. His satirical persona on The Colbert Report made him a household name and a leading voice in political comedy.
During his time at CBS, Colbert remained outspoken on political issues, often using his monologue to aim at major figures, including Donald Trump. His pointed humor earned both praise and criticism but helped drive the show’s strong ratings.
The show’s cancellation comes as Paramount Global seeks approval from the Federal Communications Commission to merge with Skydance Media. The $8.4 billion merger deal has intensified scrutiny over the network’s recent decisions, including the Trump settlement and Colbert’s show ending.
Critics worry that business and political pressure could be influencing programming decisions at major media companies.
The public reaction has been swift and emotional. Viewers flooded social media with messages of support. Fellow late-night host Jimmy Kimmel voiced his own disappointment. “Love you, Stephen,” Kimmel posted.
Stephen Colbert’s final season will air through May 2026. As he told the audience Thursday night, “This is all just going away.” For many fans, it marks the end of an era in late-night television.
